Welcome to Ham Radio's Daily Satirical Newsletter since 1990

DX CLUSTER    1.8     3.5     7.0     10    14    18    21    24    28    50      6PM 145.130 NET

TUESDAY EDITION: I am having day surgery for my rotator cuff tomorrow, I am guessing I will not be doing the page tomorrow....Ham group receives national award....True shitheads: People pray after applying cow dung on their bodies during "cow dung therapy," believing it will boost their immunity to defend against COVID-19 on May 9, 2021.....Making donuts from candy....

MONDAY EDITION: We should drop nukes day and night on China....A Simple Pull-Up Mono-Band Vertical Dipole Antenna Design / 4NEC2 Tutorial ....Students make contact with space shuttle....Pedestrian mobile using morse code.....

Unboxing the Raspberry Pi RTL-SDR Kit

Computers and digital techniques have become very popular among amateur radio operators as even a cheap Raspberry Pi computer can run almost all amateur radio software. Together with an RTL-SDR USB stick a low-cost software-defined radio (SDR) system is obtained sporting a rich feature set.

A basic system may consist of an RTL-SDR dongle with a suitable antenna and a Raspberry Pi with an audio output. With such a simple setup it is feasible to receive signals from around 24 MHz to over 1.7 GHz from stations utilizing different bands including MW/SW/LW broadcast, ham radio, utility, air traffic control, PMR, SRD, ISM, CB, weather satellite, and radio astronomy.

Besides the RTL-SDR dongle with its dipole antenna kit, the book Raspberry Pi for Radio Amateurs is included in the kit too. The book is suitable for the full range of beginners through old hands at ham radio. Step-by-step installation of the operating system is described with many details on the commonly used Linux commands.

Example projects developed in the book include a station clock, waveform generation, transistor amplifier design, active filter design, Morse code exerciser, frequency counter, RF meter, and more. The block diagram, circuit diagram, and complete Python program listings are given for each project, including the full description of the projects.  YOUTUBE VIDEO

WEEKEND EDITION: Whoops, just getting to updating the blog. I had to take the xyl to the Dr office and then an ambulance to the hospital for emergeny care but she is now home, severe reaction to a prescription. So severe they needed morphine to stop her from shaking to death and pain control, some scary when you cannot help the one you love and watch helplessly....

Congress seeks to designate National Amateur Radio Operators Day

The U.S. Congress is reportedly taking steps to officially recognize the important contributions made by amateur radio operators.

According to an article on the website of the ARRL, Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ) has introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate April 18, 2022 as National Amateur Radio Operators Day. April 18th is the anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) which was established in 1925.

The resolution cites the Amateur Radio Emergency Service for providing “invaluable emergency communications services following recent natural disasters, including, but not limited to, helping coordinate disaster relief efforts following Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Maria and other extreme weather disasters.”

Lesko had introduced a similar bill last year at the request of Raymond Anderson, a 12-year-old radio amateur from Peoria, AZ.

https://incompliancemag.com/congress-seeks-to-designate-national-amateur-radio-operators-day/

MIT Radio Society to rebuild radome thanks to ARDC grant

Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) has provided a grant to help rebuild the MIT Radio Society radome

Starting in the early 1980s, the MIT Radio Society took up residence alongside the radome on the roof of the Green Building, leveraging the highest point on campus accessible to students that provided a manageable, unobstructed laboratory to house equipment like antenna arrays and an FM repeater.

In recent years, the Radio Society adapted and upgraded the radome for their microwave experiments, most notably enabling its use for Earth-moon-Earth or "moonbounce" communication, where signals are bounced off the moon to reach Earth-bound receivers at greater distances than radio communications sent on the ground.

"Before the pandemic, we participated in a contest where we used moonbounce to make contact with as many people in as many places as possible to earn points," says Milo Hooper AI1XR, a senior in mechanical engineering and president of the MIT Radio Society. "We had to get up at 2 a.m. to make sure the moon was in the right position at the right time, and we were able to talk to people in Europe and on the West Coast. As a student, it's amazing to have the opportunity to use a world-class instrument on a college campus. It's unrivaled."

To secure the large dish’s future and replace the deteriorating radome, the MIT Radio Society spearheaded a fundraising effort and immediately got to work. Building on the momentum of a previous successful fundraising campaign among Radio Society alumni that helped refurbish their equipment on the roof, they further mobilized the MIT community of alumni and friends by organizing a second campaign. The students also pulled together a successful grant application in record time to Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), a non-profit private foundation supporting amateur radio and digital communications science, resulting in ARDC’s largest-ever philanthropic contribution, made in memory of the organization’s founder Brian Kantor. This lead gift brought the MIT Radio Society across the finish line to successfully meet their fundraising goal.

"We were overwhelmed at first by the amount we needed to raise, and the short time we had before the renovation project needed to begin. We just had to hope that someone would see the same promise and potential in the dish that we did,” says Gregory Allan KD2HUL, a PhD student in the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics who led ARDC grant submission efforts. “When we contacted ARDC, they were so supportive and willing to do whatever it took to make this happen. We're really grateful to them for this incredible gift."

Read the full story at
https://news.mit.edu/2021/saving-the-mit-radome-0507

MIT Radio Society
https://w1mx.mit.edu/

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN TRADE SHOW TO BE VIRTUAL

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Germany, hams are getting a virtual event as a substitute for Ham Radio Friedrichshafen, which was called off for the second year in a row. Ed Durrant DD5LP tells us about its digital replacement.

ED: Hams disappointed by the cancellation of Ham Radio Friedrichshafen are being offered Ham Radio World, an industry trade show, as a virtual meeting place from Friday June 25th to Sunday June 27th. The CEO of Messe Friedrichshafen, Klaus Wellmann, called the event "a digital version of Europe's leading amateur radio trade show." The three-day replacement event is free and is being coordinated with the DARC to schedule a variety of ham radio topics presented on the virtual stage and a showcase of cutting-edge products. Simulating an in-person environment as much as possible on the platform, the event will feature opportunities for video chat and customizable avatars representing visitors.

For additional details, visit the website in the Newsline script for this week's report.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: DO NOT READ: www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de]

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.


PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile in the US, Virtual Contest University and the 2021 Virtual Hamvention FOrums are accepting registration for sessions being held live through Zoom. Separate registration is required for each event. Visit contestuniversity dot com and hamvention dot org for more details or to register.

**
MICROWAVE ATTACKS REPORTED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

PAUL/ANCHOR: A probe in the United States is studying the latest in a series of reported attacks transmitting high-powered microwaves—with one such incident occurring on the south side of the White House late last year. US lawmakers heard recently about that incident and another one in a nearby Virginia suburb, according to news reports. The suspected attacks on American soil appear to be similar to incidents reported by US personnel in China and Cuba, who reported an array of symptoms later termed "Havana Syndrome." The agencies are particularly disturbed about the more recent microwave-related incident reported on the south side of the White House across the oval lawn known as the Ellipse.

According to CNN, probes by the Pentagon and other agencies have reached no conclusions. Lawmakers in Washington were briefed recently on the progress of the investigation.

(CBS, CNN)

**
SPECIAL EVENT RECALLS DOOMED US SUBMARINE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Maine, hams are getting ready for a special event this month that will share the tragedy of an American submarine and honor those who died. Kevin Trotman N5PRE brings us the details.

KEVIN: Eighty-two years after the submarine USS Squalus sank during a test dive in the Gulf of Maine, a group of amateur radio operators is devoting the anniversary date to remembering the tragedy. Although 33 survived the accident on May 23, 1939, 26 died.

Members of the Maine Ham Radio Society will be calling QRZ as special event station W1S and a certificate will be awarded to hams making successful contacts with them. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command website, the sinking was attributed to a mechanical failure within the engine that caused the state-of-the-art submarine to begin taking on water. It took until the 13th of September of that same year for the Squalus to be raised. It was brought to the Portsmouth Navy Yard and decommissioned that November. In May of the following year it was recommissioned as the USS Sailfish.

The hams are hoping the special event will help everyone remember the Squalus, its crew and the civilians on board.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(MAINE HAM RADIO SOCIETY, NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND)

**
WIA PRESSES ACMA for GREATER SPECTRUM ACCESS

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Wireless Institute of Australia wants to see hams gain greater access to more frequencies. Graham Kemp VK4BB explains.

GRAHAM: The Wireless Institute of Australia is pressing for increased amateur access to the spectrum in the range between 3 and 10 MHz, saying the expansion will enhance what it calls "frequency agility." That's an option the WIA says amateurs need as they battle congestion, high-power HF radar systems and overwhelming interference. The WIA is also advocating study of the bands between 2300-2302MHz and 3300-4200MHz. This recommendation comes in the wake of the WIA's attendance at the ACMA’s Technical Liaison Group meetings for frequencies between 3400-3475MHz. The WIA committed itself to be involved in all other groups relevant to UHF and SHF bands as needed.

**
'FENCE-TENNA' PROJECT GETS GOOD RECEPTION

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you've been on the fence about what kind of antenna is best for your operations, you might want to have a talk with Hanna Kemp-Welch M7HKW. The London YL is on the fence too; in fact, she and a group of fellow artists recently connected their shortwave radios to some fences with some interesting results. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: There are dipoles, Yagis, delta loops and multi-band verticals but Hanna Kemp-Welch prefers to connect her radio to a fence. She and a group of like-minded artists demonstrated recently how good fences can make good connections. On Saturday, May 1st, the women went to various locations in the UK and France as part of a virtual performance by their year-old group, the Shortwave Collective.

The project was called Fencetenna. Its goal was to use the receiving properties of their chosen fence to scan the shortwave bands. Whether it was a fence at a former railway station in London or part of a sheepfold fence in France, they obtained respectable reception. As seen and heard in a video posted on YouTube, in one demonstration, they picked up everything from a 2-metre beacon to a variety of voices from China, Russia and Spain. One member of the video audience remarked in the accompanying chat: [quote] "If someone could pick up the Wednesday game for me, that would be great." [endquote]

To watch the video, see the link in this week's Newsline script on our website arnewsline.org

Although it's often said that fences can divide, it's clear these fences succeeded in making a series of new connections— and all through the power of radio.

**
NEW FORMAT UNVEILED FOR YOTA ONLINE

PAUL/ANCHOR: The youngest hams in IARU Region 1 are taking their online format to a new level by introducing an interactive environment. Ed Durrant DD5LP fills in the details.

ED: The shape of YOTA Online, the virtual gathering spot for young amateurs in IARU Region 1, is changing: It's making the move from livestream to interactive forum. The format, which goes into effect in July, was outlined in late April by Region 1 Youth Working Group leaders during an online meeting. The April 29th session was, in fact, identified as the last such meeting under the old format, which was streamed live on YouTube, Facebook and Twitch.

Claudia Grober DC2CL, a member of the public relations team, said the simple livestream meetings are giving way to interactive sessions with voice and chat capability. She said the experience will be more like a BarCamp style, referring to the fluid, open environment often called the "un-conference." The point of shifting to a new format is, in true ham radio spirit, better communication.

**
'RADIO WATCH' STIRS INTEREST AT EARTH DAY EVENT

PAUL/ANCHOR: A recent Earth Day event in California became a showcase for the public safety role radio can play and one group of hams made the most of it. Here's Jack Parker W8ISH with more.

JACK: As residents in Pollock Pines, California celebrated the spirit of Earth Day at a four-hour community event, the El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club joined in to celebrate the spirit of communications. The club showcased its Neighborhood Radio Watch program, which gives non-hams an important public safety role in emergencies through their use of affordable General Mobile Radio Service handhelds as well as pagers and scanners. According to the club's public information officer, Alan Thompson W6WN, this technology is especially important in a region so prone to deadly wildfires. He said the club started three such programs in northern California last year and is preparing to launch three more before wildfire season takes hold this year.

Alan said residents clearly got the club's message during the Earth Day event and a few former radio amateurs stopped by, expressing interest in becoming active in radio again and joining the club. Alan said everyone — even the club itself — benefits from partnering with non-hams in Neighborhood Watch. He said: [quote] "These Neighborhood Radio Watch programs have had the unexpected benefit of generating tremendous local good will and PR for our club, expanded our membership, and dramatically increased donations. Community radio programs like these could be key in helping ensure the future of many clubs, and even amateur radio itself." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker W8ISH.

(ALAN THOMPSON W6WN, BOB RINGWALD K6YBV)

**
'SHORTWAVE RADIOGRAM' MARKS 200th BROADCAST

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you enjoy sending — or simply receiving — in the digital modes, there's a radio show you might want to tune into. Benn Kobb AK4AV brings us this report.

BENN: You've probably heard the sound of MFSK32 in the ham bands. But if you hear it in the shortwave broadcast bands, chances are you're hearing Shortwave Radiogram.

It's a radio show that transmits text and images using digital modes familiar to radio amateurs, but the digital sounds are broadcast in AM. The weekly half-hour show airs on shortwave stations WRMI in Florida and WINB in Pennsylvania.

Shortwave Radiogram just celebrated its 200th episode with broadcasts April 15 through 18. The project began in 2012 on the Voice of America, as VOA Radiogram. Producer Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB, explained why he created this unique program:

KIM: With more and more countries finding more and more ways to block the internet, we can use radio to get uncensored news into denied areas. Digital text modes via old analog shortwave radio transmitters can do this job. The content gets through even in reception conditions where voice content is difficult to understand.

BENN: When Kim retired from VOA in 2017, he moved the show to WRMI and WINB, and changed the name to Shortwave Radiogram.

Every week, listeners from all over the US and the world decode the text and images and post them on social media for discussion.

Kim posts information and the show schedule online at swradiogram dot net. That’s swradiogram dot net.

I’m Benn Kobb, AK4AV for Newsline.

**
DEADLINE SET FOR NON-RESIDENTS' VP8 CALLSIGN VALIDATION

PAUL/ANCHOR: The regulator in the Falkland Islands has set a deadline for non-residents seeking revalidation of their VP8 callsigns. Here's Robert Broomhead VK3DN with that story.

ROBERT: Hams holding a non-resident lifetime licence in the Falkland Islands, a VP8 callsign, need to have those callsigns revalidated by the Falkland Islands Communications Regulator.

In making the announcement on the 27th of April, the regulator said the revalidation is also open to hams who previously held such a licence. This is the third and final opportunity hams will have at revalidation and any licence not properly revalidated will be considered terminated as of the 1st of September.

The regulator has set a deadline of August 13th for all applications. The form is available as a download from the regulator's website, which appears in the print version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead VK3DN.]

**

RSGB SURVEY ASKS HAMS TO WEIGH IN

PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateurs in the UK are getting a chance to have input with planners of a workshop this fall on ham radio's future. Jeremy Boot G4NJH is following that story.

JEREMY: To assist the IARU Region 1 with the strategic workshop it has planned on the future of amateur radio, the Radio Society of Great Britain is asking hams in the UK–and even UK radio enthusiasts who do not have a licence–to participate in a short survey.

The questions ask for views on threats to amateur radio, opportunities that exist in amateur radio and any strengths and weaknesses they see in amateur radio. The information will be provided to Region 1 organisers of the workshop who have asked the region's national societies to provide this input.

The workshop, which will be held in the autumn, hopes to address how national societies can increase their memberships and how the IARU can improve its services to the ham radio community.

If you're interested in sharing your views you have until the 23rd of May. Visit the website at rsgb dot org slash survey (rsgb.org/survey).

**

SILENT KEY: LONGTIME MARS MEMBER LARRY TRISTAN WALKER K4LLQ

PAUL/ANCHOR: A decorated military veteran and a longtime member of the Military Auxiliary Radio System has become a Silent Key. Larry Tristan Walker K4LLQ died at home in Ogden, Utah on the 25th of April. According to his obituary, Larry was an Army career officer and recipient of many medals during his 23 years of military service. He received the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

His career in amateur radio began as a youngster in Georgia where he got his license and became the state's youngest ham at the time. Larry later became active in MARS which he served for 58 years. He was also a member and past president of the Fauquier [pronounced FAWK-ee-yer] Amateur Radio Association in Warrenton Virginia.

Larry was 83.

(LEAVENWORTH TIMES, ECHOVITA)

**
VIDEO CELEBRATES UK HAM RADIO DURING PANDEMIC YEAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: A new video highlights ways that the Radio Society of Great Britain kept amateur radio vibrant during the 2020 pandemic and lockdown. Newsline is especially proud that we were able to honor the "Get on the Air to Care" campaign by presenting it with our International Newsmaker of the Year Award. The GOTA2C campaign was conceived of by Paul Devlin G1SMP and put into action by the RSGB and the UK’s National Health Service. For a look at the various initiatives the RSGB accomplished in spite of pandemic conditions, watch the five-minute video on YouTube. We have provided a link in the script of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Ed, ES2TT, operating as ES2TT/8 from Kihnu Island in the Baltic Sea between the 29th and 30th of May. Listen on 40, 30 and 20 meters where he will be using CW and SSB. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via the Bureau.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**
KICKER: SHARING THE RAGCHEWS OF A LIFETIME

PAUL/ANCHOR: In a Newsline report that aired in October of 2019, we told the story of two older hams and an enduring friendship between them: an American heart surgeon in his 80s and a retired TV engineer in his 90s. The engineer became a Silent Key last month. Kent Peterson KC0DGY has that story, which concludes this week's report for Newsline.

KENT: In the logbook of a radio amateur's life, there are endless contacts, but perhaps few more valid than the ones logged by Ted Trowell G2HKU during his 98 years. The retired TV engineer, who became a Silent Key on April 13th, was a respected member of the UK's ham radio community for his long lifetime on the air. He'd been a ham since before the Second World War, using the callsign 2HKU. Two years ago he received the highest honor from the First Class Radio Operators Club, presented to him personally by American heart surgeon, Bill Maxson N4AR, who flew from the US to hand it personally to Ted, a cherished friend he'd first met on the air in the late 1950s. The occasion marked their second eyeball QSO during the pair's seven decades of countless ragchews.

Edward Harry "Ted" Trowell was described in one UK newspaper as one of Britain's oldest and longest-serving radio amateurs. He had been a member of the FOC and the CDXC. He died just weeks after marking his 98th birthday.

FRIDAY EDITION: Don't wear the wrong socks, it can cost you.....Another useful use of morse code in Canada....China just keeps giving and giving, not to mention their rocket the size of a bus weighing 20 tons which will crash on earth this weekend, but the question is where?....Today's Dumbass....Do you want to take a ride in space, well 62 miles up....

Working her is on my bucket list...

First-Time Exam Applicants Must Obtain FCC Registration Number before Taking Exam

Spring Radio Club of America QSO Party is Saturday, May 8

DX: One group's post-pandemic travel plan: Get as far away as possible

Die-hard ham-radio operators brave storms, sharks, brutal temperatures to set up temporary transmitting stations in the most remote spots around the world.

Of the many post-pandemic travel plans being hatched around the world, few are as extreme as what ham-radio operator Dom Grzyb has in mind.

The semiretired Polish businessman looks to spend tens of thousands of dollars this year to lead a group of eight to Bouvet Island in the southern Atlantic, an uninhabited locale largely covered in glacial ice. The odds aren’t favorable.

High winds and massive waves batter ships entering the region. Among travelers who manage to catch sight of Bouvet Island, which belongs to Norway, some never make shore. Slivers of beach give way to steep rock and ice formations that reach 100 feet and higher.

“It’s the most remote island in the world,” said Mr. Grzyb, 47 years old. “It’s also one of the most dangerous places in the world.”

Bouvet Island also ranks as the second most-wanted place in the world to contact among ham-radio enthusiasts. These destinations lure the most adventurous of the estimated three million operators world-wide to set up temporary transmitting stations.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/post-p...adio-fans-as-far-away-as-possible-11620312400

Just Ahead In Radiosport:

- May 7 -- NCCC RTTY Sprint

- May 7 -- NCCC Sprint (CW)

- May 7 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, maximum 20 WPM)

- May 8 - 9 -- Day of the YLs Contest (CW, phone)

- May 8 - 9 -- SARL VHF/UHF Digital Contest

- May 8 - 9 -- CQ-M International DX Contest (CW, phone)

- May 8 - 9 -- VOLTA WW RTTY Contest

- May 8 - 9 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)

- May 8 - 9 -- Arkansas QSO Party (CW, phone)

- May 8 - 9 -- 50 MHz Spring Sprint (CW, phone, digital)

- May 9 -- WAB 7 MHz Phone/CW

- May 10 -- 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)

- May 10 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (SSB)

- May 12 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

 

THURSDAY EDITION: Radio signals detected on Venus weren't sent by aliens ...

Spring Radio Club of America QSO Party is Saturday, May 8

Gothenburg celebrates 400 years with special callsign SE400G

Sweden's SSA reports SE400G is on the air to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city of Gothenburg

The City of Gothenburg who want to celebrate by developing the city into an even better place to visit, live and work in.

Hisingens Radio Club SK6AW is participating in the celebration of the 400th anniversary by activating the special callsign SE400G during the period May 1 to July 21, 2021.

The members of SK6AW will activate SE400G on different modes and possibly use the signal in different contests during this period. All QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW continuously, but no traditional QSL cards will be issued.

The special callsign is published on QRZ.com with associated information about Gothenburg's 400th anniversary.

WEDNESDAY EDITION: Imagine for a moment you're a HAM radio enthusiast, alone at night, idly working your way through the radio spectrum when you come across a broadcast on a disused shortwave channel, where usually there would be nothing but static.

The broadcast is a tune, or a buzz, or sometimes cartoon character Yosemite Sam saying "Varmint, I'm a-gonna b-b-b-bloooow ya ta'smithereenies" (yes, really) followed by a series of numbers read by a human or synthesized voice, on a bed of static for extra "I may never sleep again" vibes.

Have a listen to one of these broadcasts, and try to gauge on a scale of one to brown how hard you'd soil yourself if you'd heard it by chance.  STORY

HAM TALK LIVE

---

Website :

Members of the Potomac Valley Radio Club to Activate NSS for Armed Forces Day

Russian Robinson Club Announces Activation of Rare IOTA Islands in the Aleutians

QSO Today - Roland Smith K7OJL

Roland Smith, K7OJL, entered ham radio almost 60 years ago after the launch of the Sputnik satellite.

His ham radio activity paused for many years as a result of professional relocations and family commitments. Roland has since returned to amateur radio at a fast and furious pace, operating in just about every band and mode.

K7OJL loves CW and is an instructor at CW Academy.

TUESDAY EDITION: FlexRadio POWER GENIUS XL only $6995. I know it is a good amplifier but where the hell do they come up with these prices and name?...America is probably not going to get to herd immunity....A ham's worst nightmare, , are chemicals shrinking your penis and depleting your sperm? Here's what the evidence really says ....

Danny Weil Memorial DXpedition recognised

The 2020 VP2VB Danny Weil Memorial DXpedition was organized to bring the Danny Weil story to today's amateur radio community.

The group focused on low bands to Japan and Europe, and skillfully utilized CW, FT4, and FT8, achieving more than 5000 QSOs on the 160 & 80 meter bands, including 335 QSOs with Japan.

We are pleased to acknowledge receipt of the JIDXM (Japan International DX Meeting) 2020 DXpedition of the Year Award, presented to teams and individuals making an outstanding contribution to the DX community.

Congratulations to the VP2VB Yasme Memorial Expedition Team; Adrian/KO8SCA, Martti/OH2BH, Niko/OH2GEK, and Sandro/VE7NY.

Additional information on the history of Danny Weil can be found at:
http://www.yasme.org/dw1

Nationwide Spring Drill Set for May 8, World Red Cross Day

Russian Robinson Club Announces Activation of Rare IOTA Islands in the Aleutians

MONDAY EDITION: Good morning hamsters.....not much to report this morning....Check out the size of this fish....How backlogged are US Navy maintenance efforts on its vessels? Fast-attack submarine USS Boise has been out of service, awaiting overhaul since October 2015......

IARU asks what do YOU think is the future of Amateur Radio?

Radio amateurs everywhere are encouraged to engage with IARU Region 1 national Member Societies on the early stages of the Region 1 Workshop program about the future of Amateur Radio

At the Workshop later this year, Region 1 Member Societies will be asked to formulate their views on the future direction for amateur radio and the programs needed to ensure it develops successfully.  As a first step, work is already under way to develop an understanding of the current state of amateur radio in each country. The input of the amateur community is vital for the success of the Workshop.

Participate in the RSGB Survey at https://www.rsgb.org/survey

Online Talk: Setting up the Zumspot digital hotspot

On Wednesday, May 5 at 7:30 pm the Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society will be hosting an online talk on Zoom by Mike Richards G4WNC about the ZumSpot and how to use your VHF/UHF radio to connect to the digital networks

All are welcome to join the meeting.

Mike has been involved in radio and electronics since his childhood days. Mike—who was first licensed as G8HHA—turned to computing in the early 70s where he experimented with radio data links between his Compukit UK101 and a friend’s TRS-80.

That spurred him on to get his Full licence, G4WNC, where he has maintained an interest in digital modes. Mike’s writing career began some 25 years ago when he took over the PW RTTY column from Ron Ham and has been writing reviews and regular columns for many radio magazines including RadCom. His latest endeavour has been the well-received book Raspberry Pi Explained for Radio Amateurs, published by the RSGB.

The Zoom meeting ID is 842 5221 3056
https://zoom.us/j/84252213056

Bouvet Island Dxpedition

Bouvet is like the Mount Everest of DXCC entities. It is among the most challenging entities to activate due to significant transportation costs and personal sacrifices required by the team to make the 42 day round trip.

Fortunately, Bouvet is not our first mountain. We are well prepared for this challenge.
All plans are going well. We are researching polar quality tents and equipment. We are discussing antenna specifications with various manufacturers. We will make careful choices to help us meet the demand for Bouvet contacts.

We are delighted to add a second Physician to our team. Dr. Mike Crownover/AB5EB and Dr. Bill Straw/KO7SS are both seasoned Emergency Physicians and will help the team immensely with their expertise.

Our fund-raising is going very well. We have received a significant donation from our longtime friend Y. Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT. Zorro has always been an enthusiastic supporter of our missions and his generosity is greatly appreciated.

We are pleased to announce that we will receive the ARRL's Colvin Grant, as well as large donations from the Far East DX-ploiters Foundation, the German DX Foundation and the Twin Cities DX Association. We would love to add your Club or your Call to our sponsors pages.

This will be an arduous and expensive mission. Our budget is $764,000 USDs and the 3Y0J team will fund much of this mission. We desperately need the global DX Community to support our mission and help us make
this important activation of the #2 most wanted DXCC entity. It is only through this kind of support that we can achieve our mission of making 100,000 contacts or more from Bouvet.

In closing, we especially wish to thank our many Foundation, Club and Individual donors. Without this kind of support, operations to the world's rarest entities would not be possible. Please include your call sign,
mailing address and email address with your PayPal submissions. We would not want to miss QSLing with you!

You can follow our plans from our website and the 3Y0J Facebook:
http://www.3y0j.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3y0jbouvet2023

Thank you,
Paul Ewing-N6PSE Co-Leader
Kenneth Opskar-LA7GIA Co-Leader

Russian Special Event

To commemorate 76th anniversary of the Victory in WW II, the Union of Russian Radio Amateurs (SRR), is conducting 'Victory-76' special on-the-air event between May 2nd (starts at 0000 UTC) and May 9th (ends at 1159 UTC).

Many special memorial stations with "RP76" (not RP75 as mentioned in OPDX last week) prefix in their callsigns will be active.

Activity will be on all HF band and modes including the satellites. A special award (diploma) is available.

The complete list of participating stations is available at:
https://pobeda.srr.ru/stations

For more details, see: https://pobeda.srr.ru

DXCC Country/Entity Report

According to the Amateur Radio Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 25th April, through Sunday, 2nd May there were 211 countries active.

Countries available:

3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1U, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5R, 5V, 5W, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9V, 9Y,

A2, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C9, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E5/n, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, EU, EX, EY, F, FG, FH, FK, FM, FR, FS, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY,

K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH9, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ4, PJ5, PY, PZ, S0, S2, S5, S7, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T5, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TT, TY, TZ,

UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z3, Z6, Z8, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, ZL, ZP, ZS

WEEKEND EDITION: TN couple escape facility by knowing morse code.....What the hell is Mayday?...Parking in China....

Nice job, made from a jerry can...

A TIMELINE OF GREAT AURORA STORMS: Imagine living in Florida. You'll never see the Northern Lights ... right? Actually, the odds may be better than you think. A new historical study just published in the Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate shows that great aurora storms occur every 40 to 60 years.

"They're happening more often than we thought," says Delores Knipp of the University of Colorado, the paper's lead author. "Surveying the past 500 years, we found many extreme storms producing auroras in places like Florida, Cuba and Samoa."

Larger photo

This kind of historical research is not easy. Hundreds of years ago, most people had never even heard of the aurora borealis. When the lights appeared, they were described as "fog," "vapors", "spirits"--almost anything other than "auroras." Making a timeline 500 years long requires digging through unconventional records such as personal diaries, ship's logs, local weather reports--often in languages foreign to the researchers.

"We defined a 'Great Storm' simply as one in which auroras were visible to the unaided eye at or below 30 degrees magnetic latitude," says Knipp.

Visual sightings were key. The human eye is a sensor we've had in common with observers since the beginning of recorded history. Pre-modern scientists didn't have satellites or magnetometers to measure solar storms, but they could look up at the night sky. In all, Knipp's team tallied 14 examples of storms where many people saw auroras within 30 degrees of the equator.

"There may be more," she notes. "For example, I am aware of a low latitude event that occurred between February and April 1648. It's not on the timeline, though, because we haven't yet been able to pin down the date."

Look at the timeline again; there's a whole cluster of sightings in Sept. 1770. "The Great Storm of 1770 appears to be a 500-year event," says Knipp. "There were low-latitude auroras for 9 nights in a row."

During the 1770 storm, extremely bright red auroras blanketed Japan and parts of China. Captain James Cook himself saw the display from the HMS Endeavour near Timor Island, south of Indonesia. Knipp's colleague Hisashi Hayakawa (Nagoya University) has found drawings of the instigating sunspot; it is twice the size of the sunspot that caused the infamous Carrington Event of 1859. Knipp's timeline suggests that this was not "just another Great Storm"; something exceptional happened in 1770 that researchers still don't fully understand.

Today's senior space weather researchers were taught in school that Great Storms are rare. The Carrington Event was long thought to be a singular event, alone in the historical record. Recent studies are finding otherwise. Just last month Jeffrey Love of the US Geological Survey published a paper in Space Weather showing that extreme geomagnetic storms recur every ~45 years or so--a result in accord with Knipp's. He used completely different techniques (extreme value statistics and magnetometer records) to reach a similar conclusion.

The last Great Storm in the timeline occurred 32 years ago. Soon, it will be time for another.

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

WRTC POSTPONED UNTIL 2023

DON/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is the postponement of the world's most prestigious amateur radio contesting event: The World Radiosport Team Championship.

ED: The WRTC, which was to have been held in July 2022 in Bologna Italy, has been postponed until 2023. In making the announcement Carlo IK1HJS, organising committee president, said the difficult decision was made after considering various nations' responses to the public health challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said: [quote] "We believe our decision is reasonable." [endquote]

Carlo said recent communications from competitors have highlighted various challenges being faced in other nations.

Although more details will be released later by the committee, Carlo underscored that the postponement will ensure a fair qualification process for all of the event's international competitors, while retaining the same overall structure. The last WRTC competition was held in Wittenberg, Germany in 2018, where I, Ed Durrant DD5LP was a proud member of the publicity team. We wish the WRTC 2023 organising committee all the best for the next "Olympics of Amateur radio."

(WORLD RADIOSPORT TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP)

**
SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR YOUNGEST CONTESTERS

DON/ANCHOR: To encourage more young radio amateurs to get involved in contesting, the National Contest Journal will be recognizing the winners of the three North American QSO Parties that the journal sponsors twice a year. Starting in August, operators 25 years of age and younger will see their results highlighted for CW, SSB and RTTY. The journal's editor Lee Finkel KY7M told Newsline that this was inspired by a similar practice by Youth on the Air in Region 1. It is not a separate category. The upload app for the logs will, however, contain a check box indicating whether contest operator qualifies for a YOTA designation. Results will contain a separate table of youth scores and they will also be referenced in the journal's "NextGen" column written by Neil Rapp WB9VPG. Lee told Newsline: [quote] "Our intent is to welcome participation by all young hams whether or not they have participated specifically in YOTA activities or any other ham programs for young operators." [endquote]

(NATIONAL CONTEST JOURNAL)

**
LAUNCH PLANNED FOR SATELLITE MADE OF WOOD

DON/ANCHOR: Is a satellite made of wood an idea that can really fly? All eyes will be on New Zealand later this year, as we hear from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM: If things go as planned, all eyes will be on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand later this year, where a Rocketlab launch vehicle may become the means by which an amateur radio satellite made of wood will take to the skies. This is a project known as WISA Woodsat and it is a more durable version of the Kitsat, the educational CubeSat it's based on. The launch of the 1-kilogram satellite into polar orbit, if it happens, will determine whether treated wood can serve as a good material for a spacecraft. The solar-powered satellite will reach an altitude of between 500 and 550 km – or 310 to 340 miles – and will have an orbit that takes 90 minutes.

Mission manager Jari Mäkinen of Arctic Astronautics said in a statement on the Engineering & Technology website: [quote] "In addition to testing plywood, the satellite will demonstrate accessible radio amateur satellite communication; host several secondary technology experiments; validate the Kitsat platform in orbit, and popularise space technology.” [edquote]

The concept for a wooden satellite is not new. Earlier this year, Newsline reported on a partnership between a business and a university in Japan to create an environmentally friendly wooden satellite to launch by 2023.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY)

**
YOUNG RADIO FRIENDS SHARE EVERYTHING, INCLUDING AN HONOR

DON/ANCHOR: There's a new young ham in Pennsylvania who has bragging rights to setting a record in Montour County. For those details we turn to Randy Sly W4XJ.

RANDY: First of all, let's just say for the record that Vincent Kahler KC3RXV, a Pennsylvania third-grader, is still very good friends with Abbi Smith KC3OTG, even though he has claimed an honor that Abbi proudly won last year. At the age of 8, Vincent has become the youngest licensed amateur radio operator in Pennsylvania's Montour County. That was Abbi's claim to fame last year after getting her license when she was 11. The two became friends through Scouting and Abbi's father, Thomas Smith KC3OLH, coached Vincent in his studies for his FCC exam. Now Vincent can join his father Lee Kahler KC3RXX, and mother, Cynthia Kahler, KC3RXW, on the air — but this youngster already has an ambitious agenda beyond that. Inspired by Abbi's own involvement in emergency response work, Vincent has become SKYWARN-certified and plans to join the Amateur Radio Emergency Services and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. He's also a member of the Young Amateur Communications Ham Team, a club for young radio operators.

Meanwhile he's been collecting more than just congratulations: Vincent has already started receiving some of his first QSL cards.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Randy Sly W4XJ.

(THE DAILY ITEM)

**
SMARTPHONES ANSWER THE CALL OF SOLAR STORMS

DON/ANCHOR: If you've grown weary of receiving texts, emails and even those endless "robo-calls" on your smartphone, why not pick up some solar weather? Andy Morrison K9AWM offers us this report.

ANDY: That smartphone you're probably holding in your hand right now might be the key to better propagation for your future QSOs according to a study by an astronomer at the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center. Scientist Sten F. Odenwald has published his findings which say that smartphones' built-in magnetometers can be a useful tool in detecting some of the strongest geomagnetic storms.

Magnetometers, which are capable of detecting fluctuations in magnetic fields, assist both Android and iOS smartphone users in utilizing the phones' function as a compass. Odenwald writes that although there is some interference from other components in the phones, causing digital noise, the detection capability remains largely intact. So when geomagnetic storms occur – for instance, after the sun ejects plasma – changes occur in the magnetic field and the smartphone is capable of picking that up.

He told the Academic Times: [quote] "Smartphones — at least theoretically — should be able to detect some of the strongest storms, pretty easily in fact. Especially if you happen to live up in the northern latitudes — in Minnesota or in Canada, or places like that where it really rocks and rolls."

He said he has been studying the phones' ability to detect storms since 2017 with some success, adding that his results were still inconclusive.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(ACADEMIC TIMES, SPACE WEATHER)

**

NETS OF NOTE: HAMS CHECK IN TO SHARE SOME 'CABIN FEVER'

DON/ANCHOR: In our occasional series, "Nets of Note," Newsline looks at the many ways hams gather to connect with one another. This week we look at a relatively new net born during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing hams in a rural part of the UK to stay in touch daily. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us more.

JEREMY: The daily net being run by the Hambleton Amateur Radio Society is advising hams not to stay safely 2 metres apart but to gather safely on 2 metres together. That's the emphasis of a daytime net that has been operating since the pandemic lockdown shut people in last year. Tim Allison G0TYM, told Newsline that the net's creation was inspired by the Get On the Air to Care campaign of the Radio Society of Great Britain and it first went on the air on the 18th of March 2020 with the call sign G0TYM/NHS – and only two participants. But it has since grown to a larger group of regulars, including club president Tony G3MAE. On Thursday April 22nd the net reached a milestone of 400 consecutive days and continues to offer its Cabin Fev er Award, a concept he copied from Worked All Britain's own award by that name.

Said Tim: "I do keep a daily log of all check-ins and decided to create the award on our 100th day back in June last year. I made it as an award as it signifies you have not only called in but are surviving the COVID scourge, hi hi." Hams are now checking in as well using the AO91 satellite, the ISS and Echolink Node GB3IR.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(TIM ALLISON G0TYM)

**
NEWSLINE IN SEARCH OF 2021 YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

DON/ANCHOR: Think for a moment about some of the young amateurs you may know: dedicated radio operators 18 or younger who embody the spirit of experimentation, community service and communication. They might just be eligible to become the next Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year. You have until May 31st to nominate a young ham for this award, which will be presented in August at the Huntsville Hamfest. Candidates should be living in the United States, its possessions or any Canadian province. Downloadable forms are available on our website arnewsline.org

**
LESSONS IN HOMEBREW FOR SATELLITE LISTENING

DON/ANCHOR: In Mauritius, students are learning how to get up close and personal with satellites — homebrew-style. Jason Daniels VK2LAW brings us that story.

JASON: Eighty-five students in secondary schools and colleges in Mauritius recently learned how basic, affordable materials such as aluminum rods and PVC pipes can be transformed into an antenna that listens to satellites. Training workshops were organised at 12 schools and five universities by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council. The lessons included installation of the antenna on a school rooftop, tools for satellite tracking and decoding of satellite telemetry and images on the amateur radio bands. Students also learned about radio waves and communication.

Organisers are hoping the lessons will fortify the future of satellite and space technology in the Republic of Mauritius as the students graduate into their eventual professional careers. The students used their homebrew antenna and a software-defined radio – and at the end of the training, the Council assisted in the creation of a miniature ground station. The radios and antennas remain at the schools to enable workshops to train more classes in the years ahead.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(AFRICA NEWS, SPACEMAURITIUS.COM)

**
INTERNATIONAL YL CONTEST HONORS MEMORY OF A FRIEND

DON/ANCHOR: Friendship was at the heart of the original concept for The Day of the YLs contest which began as a dream for French radio amateur Carine F5ISY. After she became a Silent Key in 2019, her friends around the world took up her vision. Sel Embee KB3TZD tells us more.

SEL: When the Day of the YLs contest gets on the air on May 29th and 30th, many of the operators will be listening for new radio amateurs and remembering an old friend: Carine F5ISY who became a Silent Key before she could see her dream for this contest become a reality. YLs from around Europe – many of them personal friends of Carine [prounced Kuh-Reen] – will be calling QRZ in her memory. Be listening for Krystyna [pronounced: Christina] G5YL, Niece [pronounced: Knee See] KA1ULN and Raisa [pronounced Rye-YEE-Suh] R1BIG, among others. YLs working other YLs earn extra points but OMs are welcome to make contacts too. The contest will be held on HF as well as D-STAR, Fusion and DMR.

For additional details, visit the website listed in the printed version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org

FOR PRINT ONLY: https://dayofyls.blogspot.com/p/press.html

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Sel Embee KB3TZD.

**
NORWAY RESUMES IN-PERSON LICENSE EXAMS

DON/ANCHOR: There are some new licensed amateurs in Norway now that it has resumed its in-person license exams. Ed Durrant DD5LP tells us more.

ED: Congratulations to six of Norway's newest amateur radio operators. Their shared accomplishment was long-awaited due to months of no licence exams being possible because of the pandemic. Where many countries have been administering the tests virtually since last year, Norway has no such system. Ten candidates showed up for testing on the 20th of April at the ARK Student Amateur Radio Club in Trondheim, Norway. Six of them passed the multiple-choice test, which has 40 questions. There is only one class of amateur radio licence in Norway which permits the use of 1 kW of power.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(ARK RADIO CLUB)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Spanish stations with special call signs marking Europe Day between the 7th and 9th of May. The special call signs have a prefix of "AO" and a suffix of "EU" with numbers 1 through 9 in between. A special QSL and an award will be available and contacts are also valid for the Radio Clubs of the World Award. Send all QSLs to EA3RKF.

Be listening for special event station II5RCH [Eye Eye Five RCH] from Grosseto, Italy. It will be on the air until May 9th. The station is operating during the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. QSL to the address on QRZ.com or via the Bureau to IZ5RHU.

Harry, JG7PSJ, will be using the callsign JD1BMH from Chichijima [CHEE CHEE JEE MAH] from April 30th to May 7th. Be listening on 40 through 10 metres where Harry will be using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via the Bureau to JD1BMH or direct to JG7PSJ.

In England, be listening for special event stations marking the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and patron of the Radio Society of Great Britain, at age 99. Be listening for GB0DOE [Gee-Bee-Zero-Dee-Oh-Eee] on the air until May 6th. Send QSLs via the Bureau or direct only. Listen also for GB2DOE, on the air until May 15th. QSL via LoTW.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**
APOLLO 11 ASTRONAUT MICHAEL COLLINS DIES

DON/ANCHOR: Newsline also notes with sadness the death of Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, who was one of the three crew members on the first moon mission in July 1969. He died of cancer on Wednesday, April 28th, aged 90.

(WASHINGTON POST, BBC)

**

KICKER: EARTHBOUND ASTRONAUT OFFERS WELL-GROUNDED OBSERVATIONS

DON/ANCHOR: For our final story, goodbyes aren't always easy but when you're an astronaut on the International Space Station, having one or two more QSOs with students at schools around the world makes the Earthbound journey seem that much more real. Graham Kemp VK4BB brings us that story.

GRAHAM: As ISS astronaut Shannon Walker KD5DXB prepared for her return to Earth with her crewmates aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft, she still had some unfinished business: QSOs with students in Australia on Monday April 26th, aided by the ARISS relay amateur radio ground station IK1SLD in Italy.

Just hours after her crewmate Victor Glover KI5BKC had an earlier QSO with students at St. Scholastica's College in New South Wales, Shannon was using the callsign OR4ISS as she took the mic to chat to youngsters at St. Margaret's School and Berwick Grammar School in Melbourne. There were the usual questions about food, gravity, temperature, space junk and science experiments on board but one question in particular reflected the global excitement over recent space exploration and future flights to Mars. Even as Shannon was preparing for her return to planet Earth, she was already being questioned about whether she might like to return to space — and this time, make it all the way to Mars as part of a flight crew.

Shannon said that her heart was certainly in it but that trip is still a long way off. She replied [quote] "I wouldn't mind doing it but I'm afraid by the time we get to Mars, I will already be a retired astronaut." [endquote]

FRIDAY EDITION: Good morning hamsters, another day of little news in ham radio, send me some stuff!.....RIP to Steve Finburg who created the MIT flea market, remember him handing out flyers at all the local hamfests?....You ever wondered what it would be like to have a 50 cal blow up in your face? This guy found out, and it's all on video........Everything you wanted to know about landing on Mars...

ARISS-USA Seeks Volunteers to Further its Mission

ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to 3Y0J Bouvet Island DXpedition in 2023